Door-operating mechanism



(No Model.) 2SheetsSheet 1 E. A. HALDEMAN.

D DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM. No. 581,821. Patented May 4,1897.

Jl' 3 J1 6x; ENVY, 011 5. Q. WMQMW Tm: mnms PEYEHS co. vncnmumm 2 t w hS W e e h 2 M S N Mm E D L N Am H .R AN .0 ER 0 0 D (No Model) No.581,821. Patented May 4,1897.

UNTTEn STATES PATENT GEEICE.

EPIIRAHI A. IIALDEMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DOOR-OPERATING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,821, dated May 4,1897. Application filed June 13, 1896. Serial No. 595,471. (No model.)

T (0 whont it may concern..-

Be it known that I, EPHRAIM A. HALDEMAN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDoor-Operating Mechanism, of which I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

- The invention has for its object to provide door-operating mechanismmore particularly adapted for the opening and closing of doors thatguard the entrances to elevator-cars.

The invention consists of various novel features of construction andcombination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the variousclaims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation showing a part of the hatchway ofan elevatorshaft adjacent the. upper portion of one of the doorways,showing also the upper part of the door and the mechanism whereby thedoor is operated. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation showing the lower partof the door and adjacent portion of the hatchway, showing the valvemechanism for controlling the flow of air to the operating-cylinder andshowing in cross-section the floor of the car and in elevation the meansbeneath the car for operating the valve mechanism. Fig. is a view inhorizontal section through the hatchway and its door and adjacent parts,a portion of the elevator-car floor being shown in plan and thevalve-operating mechanism being also shown in plan. Fig. 4 is anenlarged view, in horizontal section, through the operating cylinder andpiston. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with a differentialtrunk-piston shown in elevation. Fig. 6 is a view in crosssection online 6 6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a detail view, in vertical section, of thecontrolling-valve and its seat. Fig. 8 is a detail view, in verticalsection, ofthe check-valve, its casing, and adjacent parts. Fig. 0 is adetail view showing a part of one of the doorhanger links and thestriking-plate that will be engaged by a pin projecting from such link.Fig. 10 is a View in side elevation the hatchway is closed.

showing the striking-plate, its suspensionlinks, a part of one of thedoor-hangers, &7C.

In the accompanyin drawings I have shown my invention as applied to asingle doorway, but it will be understood, of course, that theimprovements hereinafter specified may be applied to as many doors asmay be required.

A, A, and A designate suitable supporting-columns of the hatchway,between which columns extend the crossbars A and A and B denotes thedoor whereby the opening of The cross-bar A above the doorway is shownas provided with the usual guide-plates a, whereby the upper edge of thedoor is guided in its movements, and it will be understood, of course,that, if desired, other suitable guides may be employed for the bottomof the door, although these form no part of my invention. To thecrossbar A or to any other suitable fixed part of the structure areattached the pivot-pins 2 and 3, and to the pin 2 are pivotallyconnected the upper ends of the hanger-bars c c, the lower ends of thesebars being pivoted, as at 4 and 5, -to the upper ends of the bars 0 and0 the lower ends of which bars are pivoted, as at 6, to a bracket 7,projecting from the top of the door 15. In like manner it will be seenthat the hanger-bars c and 0 have their upper ends connected to thepivot-pin 3, while their lower ends are pivotally connected, as at 8 and9, respectively, to the upper ends of thehanger-bars 0 the lower ends ofthe bars and 0 being pivoted, as at 10, to a bracket projecting from theupper edge of the door B.

At 4 and 5 are pivotally connected the lower ends of the links 12 and13, the links 12 and 13 being pivoted, as at 14, to the lower end of alink 16, the upper end of which link 16 is pivoted, as at 17, to the arm18, that is fixed to the column A and is shown as braced by a bar 19,depending from the cross-bar A In like manner there are two links 20 and21, the

lower ends of which are pivotally connected at 8 and 9, while theirupper ends are pivoted at to the lower end of a link 23, the upper endof this link 23 being pivoted at 24: to the lower end of a bar 25, thatdepends from the cross-bar A The construction of antifriction doorhangermechanism above described is similar to that set forth in Letters PatentNo. 446,516,

granted to me February 17, 1891, and in Letters Patent No. 561,164,granted to me June 2, 1896. By this mechanism the straight-lineback-and-forth movement of the door is insured with very littlefriction, so that the power necessary to open and close the door isreduced to a minimum. It will be understood, of course, that as the doormoves back and forth the links 0, c, 0 and c of one hanger and thecorresponding links of the other hanger will spread, so that a free andeasy back-and-forth movement of the door will occur.

The improved mechanism whereby the opening and closing of the door Bwill be effected will next be described.

Between the columns A and A, or conveniently supported in any othersuitable position, is sustained the cylinder D, that carries thetrunk-piston E. (See Figs. 1, 4, and 5.) The cylinder D is provided witha long slot or opening (I, through which projects an extension 30 fromthe end 6 of the trunk-piston E, and to the projection 30 is attached anarm 31, the lower end of which pivotall y connects, as at 32, to thelower ends of the links 33 and 34, the upper ends of these links beingpivotally connected, as shown in Fig. 1, to the hanger-bars and 0 Fromthis construction it will be apparent that as the trunk-piston E ismoved back and forth within the cylinder D a corresponding movement ofthe arm 31 Will occur, and as this arm is connected to the adjacentantifriction -hanger it is manifest that a like back-and-forth movementwill be imparted to the door.

It will be seen that by employing two links 33 and 34, connected,respectively, to the arms 0 and 0 the result is that as the bar orcrosshead 31 is moved backward to effect the opening of the door thelink 33 will exert a pushing action, while the link 34 will exert apulling strain, and thus the force required to open the door will bedistributed between the hangerarms 0 and c and an easier and moreuniform action will occur, with less strain and wear upon the parts thanwould be the case if a single link extended from the bar 31.

The body of the trunk-piston E forms a cylinder within which is mountedthe fixed piston F, this piston being carried at the end of anair-supply pipe f, the opposite end of which pipe passes freely throughan opening formed in the head 6 of the trunk-piston E and is connectedto a port 38, formed in the end of the cylinder D, this port 38 havingconnected thereto a branch supply-pipe 40, that connects with the mainstand-pipe 41, by which the air is supplied to the system. To theopposite end of the cylinder D is connected an air delivery and exhaustpipe 42, that is also connected to the main stand-pipe 41, as willpresently more fully appear.

It will be observed that the branch pipe 40 is in constant communicationwith the supplypipe or stand-pipe 41, and consequently the air-pressureis at all times upon the inner face of the head of the piston E; butinasmuch as the area exposed to air-pressure upon the left-hand side ofthis piston is much less than the area exposed upon the opposite side ofthe piston it follows that when the same fluid-pressure per square inchis exerted upon opposite sides of the piston E the piston will be movedbackward against the force of the fluid-pressure exerted upon itssmaller area. In other words, the piston E is a differential piston, andits movements respond to the difference in pressures exerted upon itsopposite areas. Hence it is that although fluidpressure is at all timesupon the smaller area of the piston E, still when like fluid-pressure isadmitted into the cylinder D by the pipe 42 the trunk-piston E will movefrom the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 4, andin thus moving will carry the door from the closed to the open position.On the other hand, it is obvious that as soon as fluid-pressure withincylinder D is released or suihciently diminished by escape through thepipe 42 the constant pressure upon the smaller area of the trunk-pistonE will cause this piston to move from the position seen in Fig. 4 backto the position shown in Fig. 5, thereby elfecting the closing of thedoor.

The valve mechanism whereby the supply and discharge of air to and fromthat part of the cylinder D opposite the larger area of the differentialpiston are effected will next be described, reference being had moreparticularly to Figs. 2, 3, and 7 of the drawings. XVithin the pipe 42is interposed a valve-seat 43, this valve-seat being cored to receivethe valve Gand being provided with the throughpassage 44, the branchpassage 45, and the escape port or passage 46. The valve G is formedwith the through-passage g, adapted to connect with and form a passagefor air through the channel 44 and adapted also when brought coincidentwith the passage 45 to connect such passage with the escape passage orchannel 46. That is to say, when the valve G is turned so that itspassage 9 is coincident with the passage or channel 44 the supply of airfrom the main stand-pipe 41 will'pa-ss through the branch pipe 42 to thecylinder D, (the intermediate check-valve mechanism being for thepresent disregarded.) On the other hand, when the valve G is turned tothe position seen in Fig. 7 the air within the cylinder D will escape bythe pipe 42, the channel 45, the passage 6, and escape port or channel46 to the open air.

The valve G, as shown in Fig. 2, extends outside its casing or seat, andhas connected thereto a depending link g, the lower end of which ispivotally connected, as at 47, to a push-bar H. Preferably one end ofthis pushbar is in like manner pivotally connected, as at 49, to alink50, that is pivoted, as at 51, to some fixed part of the structure, thepurpose of this link 50 being simply to insure a straight-line movementof the bar H. The

outer end of the push-bar H is preferably furnished with afriction-roller h, adapted to be struck by a shoe K, that is carriedupon the end of a rod 7t, the opposite end of which rod 5 is pivotallyconnected to an elbow-lever K, that is pivoted, as at A1 beneath thefloor of the elevator-car. The elbow-lever K has its upper arm slottedto receive a projection at the lower end of a treadle-rod K that isencircled by a coiled spring le that serves to hold the treadle-rod Kthe elbow-lever 7c, and the shoe K normally in the retracted positionseen in Fig. 8 of the drawings. The top of the treadle-rod K will extendslightly above the floor of the elevator-car, where it can beconveniently depressed by the foot of the operator.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the operatordepresses the treadle-rod K the shoe K will be moved outward, so that asthe elevator-car moves up or down the shoe K will engage with thefriction-roller h, thereby forcing this roller and the bar H from theposition shown in full lines, Fig. 2, to the position shown by dottedlines. \Vhen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the valve Gwill occupy the position seen in Fig. 7that is to say, there will be afree passage for the escape of air from the cylinder D, and consequentlythe constant pressure of air upon the small area of the differentialpiston E will hold the door normallyin a closed position. (Seen inFig.1.) lVhen, however, the bar H is shifted by the shoe K from theposition shown by full lines to the position shown by dotted lines inFig. 2, the valve G will be turned until its passage or port g comes inline with the port or passage at, (see Fig. 7,) thereby permitting thepassage of air from the main stand-pipe 41 through the branch-pipe t2 tothe end of the cylinder D opposite the larger area of the differentialpiston E. It is obvious that when the valve G is thus shifted thepressure of 5 air upon the larger area of the piston E will cause thispiston to move from the position seen in Fig. 5 to the position seen inFig. a of the drawings, thereby shifting the door from the closed to theopen position.

It will be understood, of course, that as the operator approaches thelanding at which the door is to be opened he will simply depress thetreadle-rod K in order to effect the shifting of the valve mechanism inmanner above defined.

In order to secure the easy opening and closing of the doorthat is tosay, to prevent its slamming as it is opened and closed-I have providedthe mechanism next to be de- 0 scribed. \Vithin the branch pipe 42 isinterposed a checkvalve casing M, (see Fig. 8,) the ports m and m ofwhich connect, respectively, with the upper and lower portions of thebranch pipe Within the casing M is 5 fixed a flexible diaphragm M, toone side of which is attached a check-valve h adapted to obstruct one ofthe ports of the casing and from the opposite side of which extends arod M whereby the movement of the checkvalve M is effected in order toclose or cut off the passage of air to the casing M. Upon the rod M aremounted the coil-springs p and p, the inner ends of these springshearing against the yoke-shaped upper end of an elbow-lever R, that ispivotally mounted, as at r, to a bracket-plate rising from the crossbarA or to any other fixed part of the structure. Suitable adjustablecollars p and p are set upon the rod M and enable the force of thesprings p and p to be adjusted to any required tension.

To the lower end of the elbow-lever R is pivotally connected a shoe orstriking-plate R, and to this plate is also pivotally connected a link Rthat is pivoted, as at 0' in parallelism with the lower arm of theelbowlever B. The elbow-lever R and the link R serve to sustain thestriking-plate R in horizontal position, while permitting it to beraised and lowered, as will presently appear, in order to cause theelbow-lever R to shift the rod M and the check-valve M Upon one of thehanger-links as, for example, link c is fixed a pin S, which will strikeagainst the under side of the plate R as the door nearly reaches the endof its travel toward the open position-that is to say, as the door isopened and the antifriction-hanger attached to its front end is swungrearwardly the link 0 will be lifted somewhat, so that the pin S willstrike the under side of the plate R and lift this plate in such manneras to cause the elbow-lever R to rock about its pivot-point r and forcethe rod M to so shift the valve M as to close the mouth of the channel mof the casing M, (see Fig. 8;) but as soon, however, as the pin S passesfrom beneath the striking-plate R the spring 19 and the weight of theplate R, together with the pressure of air against the diaphragm M, willcause the valve M to be lifted away from the mouth of the channel m, soas to again permit the free passage of air through the pipe 42 into thecylinder D. Hence it will be seen that when valve G has been shifted soas to permit air to pass by the branch pipe 42 to the cylinder 1) andthe piston E has been moved so as to cause the opening of'the door B airwill continue to be admitted to the cylinder D until the pin S, byraising the striking-plate R, causes the elbow-lever R to be shifted soas to force the rod M to close the valve M against its seat, and thustemporarily check or cut off the supply of air from the cylinder D tothe pipe 42. As soon, however, as the momentum of the door and theexpansion of air within the cylinder D have carried the pin S away frombeneath or to the rear of the striking-plate R this plate will descendand, as above explained, the valve M will pass from its seat and thuspermit air to again enter the eylinderD,so that although the backwardmovement of the door. is temporarily checked the final opening of thedoor is effected by the pressure of air being restored to the cylinderD.

It will also be seen by reference to Fig. 1 that one of the links,preferably the link 0 of the antifriction-hanger attached to the rearend of the door, is provided with a projecting pin S, which as the dooris moved to its open position rides above the top of the striking-plateR, but which as the door ismoved to the closed position rides beneathand lifts this striking-plate just before the final closing of the dooroccurs-that is to say, as the door B moves from the open to the closedpo-' sition the pin S will ride beneath and lift the striking-plate R,and consequently cause the elbow-lever R and the rod M to close thevalve M and prevent the escape of air from the cylinder D through thepipe 42. IVhen the escape of air is thus arrested, it is manifest thatthe movement of the differential piston E will be checked, but as soonas the pin S passes from beneath the striking-plate R, therebypermitting this plate to fall to the normal position seen in Fig. 1, thevalve M will be forced from its seat by the air escaping from thecylinder D, and the constant pressure of air upon the smaller area ofthe piston E will exert'its force to effect the complete closing of thedoor.

By reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be seen that the sectionsof pipe 42 at each side of the check-valve casing M are connected bywhat I term a leakage-pipe T, in which leakage-pipe is interposed avalve t, whereby the passage of air admitted through the leakage-pipemay be controlled, the valve being an ordinary petcock or valve that maybe set by hand in any position. The purpose of this leakage-pipe T andvalve 25 is to insure the admission or escape of a certain amount of airto and from the cylinder D, notwithstanding the closing of the valve Mand'thus preventing the complete stopping of the door at the time thatthe pins S or S are beneath the striking-plate R. In other words, I havethought it best not to depend upon the momentum of the door or of theexpansion of the air to carry the pins S and S beyond the striking-plateR, and it is obvious that even if the momentum of the door in itsopening or closing movement should not be adequate to carry the pins Sand S from beneath the striking-plate the leakage of air through thepipe T will serve to effect such final movements of the door.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that my inventionprovides a most simple and effective means whereby the opening andclosing of the doors of elevators or the like may be secured and wherebythe checking of the doors in the opening and closing movements iseffected.

It is manifest that the details of construc tion above set out may bevaried within wide limits without departing from the spirit oftheinvention, and I do not therefore Wish the invention to be understoodas restricted to such details.

WVhile I have described my invention as particularly adapted forelevator-doors, it is manifest that it can be used in other situations.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a door,of ahanger comprising pivoted bars 0 and 0 c and 0 a piston for shiftingsaid hanger-bars and pivoted links 33 and 34 connected intermediate saidhanger-bars whereby the strain is distributed between said bars,substantially as described.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a doorto be shifted, of a differential piston and its cylinder provided withsuitable fluid-supply pipes, said piston being operatively connectedwith the door and having its smaller area in free communication with thefluid-pressure supply, and valve mechanism for controlling the flow offluid to said cylinder opposite the larger area of its piston,substantially as described.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a partto be shifted, of a differential trunk-piston operatively connected withsaid part, a cylinder for said piston provided with a pipe for admissionof fluid under pressure to the interior of said trunk-piston, a pipe forsupplying fluid to said cylinder, and valve mechanism for controllingthe flow of fluid to and from said cylinder, substantially as described.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a partto be shifted, of a differential trunk-piston, a cylinder wherein saidtrunk-piston is mounted in manner free to reciprocate, a stationarypiston within the trunk of said differential piston, a pipe forsupplying fluid under pressure to the interior of said trunk-piston, apipe for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinder of saiddifferential piston and suitable valve mechanism for controlling theflow of fluid to and from said cylinder, substantially as described.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a partto be shifted, of a differential trunk-piston and its cylinder, a pistonwithin the trunk of said differential piston, a pipe for supplying fluidunder pressure to the interior of said trunk-piston, suitable ports forthe admission and discharge of fluid to and from the cylinder of saiddifferential piston and valve mechanism for controlling the flow offluid to and from said cylinder, said valve mechanism comprising a valvehaving a port therein to permit the air or fluid under pressure to passto said cylinder, and an escape-port to permit the escape of fluid fromsaid cylinder, and means for operating said valve, substantially asdescribed.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a partto be shifted, of a differential piston and its cylinder, a mainsupply-pipe, a branch pipe leading from said main supply-pipe to the endof the cylinder opposite the smaller area of the differential piston, abranch pipe leading from the main supply-pipe to the end of the cylinderopposite the larger area of the differential piston, a valve-casin ginterposed in said last-named branch pipe, said casing having adeliverypassage and an escape port or passage therein, a valve withinsaid casing for controlling the admission and escape of air through saidcasing and means connected with the elevatorcar for operating saidvalve, substantially as described.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a partto be shifted, of a piston suitably connected with said part, a cylinderfor said piston, suitable pipes whereby the passage of fluidunderpressure to and from said cylinder is effected, valve mechanism forcontrolling the flow of fluid to said cylinder, a check-valve forcontrolling the passage of air through the pipe that leads to one end ofsaid cylinder and means substantiallyas described for effecting; themovement of said check valve, substantially as described. V

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a partto be shifted, of a piston suitably connected with said part, a cylinderfor said piston, suitable pipes whereby the passage of fluid underpressure to and from said cylinder is effected, valve mechanism forcontrolling the flow of fluid to said cylinder, a check-valve forcontrolling the passage of air through the pipe that leads to one end ofsaid cylinder, a diaphragm connected to said check-valve, a rodconnected to said diaphragm and means for shifting said rod to effectthe closing of said check valve, substantially as described.

9. In apparatus of the characterdescribed, the combination with a partto be shifted, of a piston suitably connected with said part, a cylinderfor said piston, suitable pipes whereby the passage of fluid underpressure to and from said cylinder is effected, valve mechanism forcontrolling the flow of fluid to said cylinder, a check-valve forcontrolling the passage of air through the pipe that leads to one end ofsaid cylinder, a diaphragm connected to said check-valve, a rodconnected to said diaphragm, a lover or bar for shifting said rod andspring mechanism interposed between said lever or bar and said rod,substantially as described.

10. In apparatus of the characterdescribed, the combination with a partto be shifted, of a piston suitably connected with said part, a cylinderfor said piston, suitable pipes Whereby the passage of fluid underpressure to and from said cylinder is effected, valve mechanism forcontrolling the flow of fluid to said cylinder, a check-valve forcontrolling the passage of air through the pipe that leads to one end ofsaid cylinder, a diaphragm connected to said check-valve, a rodconnected to said diaphragm, a lever or bar for shifting said rod andadjustable spring mechanism interposed between said lever or bar andsaid rod, substantially as described.

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a partto be shifted, of a piston suitably connected with said part, a cylinderfor said piston, suitable pipes where by the passage of fluid underpressure to and from said cylinder is effected, valve mechanism forcontrolling the flow of fluid to said cylinder, a check-valve forcontrolling the passage of air through the pipe that leads to one end ofsaid cylinder, a diaphragm connected to said check-valve, a rodconnected to said diaphragm and means for shifting said rod to effectthe closing of said checkvalve, said shifting means comprising a pivotedlever and a striking-plate connected to said lever, the upper end ofsaid pivoted lever being in suitable engagement with said rod,substantially as described.

12. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a partto be shifted, of a piston suitably connected with said part, a cylinderfor said piston, suitable pipes whereby the passage of fluid underpressure to and from said cylinder is effected, valve mechan ism forcontrolling the flow of fluid to said cylinder, a check-valve forcontrolling the passage of air through the pipe that leads to one end ofsaid cylinder, means substantially as described for effecting themovement of said check-valve, and a leakage or by-pass pipe extendingaround said check-valve, substantially as described.

EPHRAIM A. HALDEMAN. lVitnesses:

ALBERTA ADAMICK, FRED GERLAOH.

